OK, so I have been working on a friends 96 Ford Contour, and I thought I had it done. I replaced the head gasket and fixed major cooling problems. It ran fine for a while, but now has developed an issue. Normally, I would double-check the timing and idle speed, but everything is controlled by the computer so I am out luck. Perhaps someone can interpret the odd problem it has developed.
The car starts fine, idles fine, revs up in park just fine. Shift into reverse, and I can back up a steep driveway just fine. Even zoom out if I want. But as soon as I shift into drive, it dies. If I give it some extra gas and feather it a bit, it will go forward, but as soon as I put the pedal down, it hesitates. The motor intermittently cuts out completely, like the fuel is being cut. If I let off the gas, then SLOWLY apply the gas and build up speed, it will run fine. I can get it up to highway speed with no missing or hesitation at all. But if I lift off, then give it power like on a hill, it will sputter again.
No codes on the OBDII. New plugs and wires. Removed and checked the fuel pump. Replaced the fuel filter. Nothing wrong in the air intake. Nothing mechanical that I can find at all. My advice is take it to a dealer and hook it up to their fancy computer and see if it says anything.
